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Matthew Sweet Has Happy 'Apeman' Feet

Matthew Sweet and Susanna Hoffs have teamed up again for another collection of cover songs on 'Under the Covers, Vol. 2,' and are currently on the road together for a small acoustic tour in support of their latest record. Sweet will be checking in with personal photos and anecdotes for his fans as the intimate club run continues this month. In his first entry, the singer-songwriter explains his love for his shoes and why everyone should get in touch with their inner apeman.

Make like an apeman! They're called Five Fingers, even though Five Toes would describe them more accurately. I wear them religiously. They are shoes. Susanna Hoffs and I have been on the road playing informal acoustic shows in support of our covers records, 'Under The Covers volume 1 & 2.' One of the most asked questions for me at the venues is, "Tell us about those shoes!" "Those shoes" are the Five Fingers by Vibram, and they are a dream come true -- a shoe for people who would rather be barefoot, like me!

Ok, they were developed for use as running shoes for barefoot running, a trend I was not aware of until I read an article about the Five Fingers in the New York Times last summer. I've found that these shoes really fit my needs in terms of footwear, and despite my flat feet, they work great for me in daily use. Oh how those toes breathe through the membrane around them, keeping those foot fingers cool and dry. I could go on and on about these shoes, and often do -- I am asked everywhere I go what they are. People tend to either be joyfully interested, or they walk by and make fun of them, secretly snickering to each other rather obviously. A TSA agent at airport screening told me that when they go through the x-ray machine, it's totally freaky as they look like a pair of human feet. Indeed, Vibram wouldn't have to change things much to make them for, say, our recently discovered anscestor "Ardi."

So why do we hide our toes in those big shoe boxes? Don't y'all have toes too? My toes are very strong now. Maybe you should consider following my lead, and make like the apeman you really are. You might just find the shoe fits!

- Matthew Sweet

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David Pierce

Matthew, Check it out-I posted some of our old tunes on Facebook and Podbean. Hope you are well, David

June 05 2010 at 9:08 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Gary Trimarchi

Choice shoes man.

Sorry I couldn't see you and Susanna this year, I'm only 20 and the age was 21 and over. Maybe next year. Met you outside of Webster Hall.

Loved the new Under The Covers. Are you going 80s next? Can't wait for a new solo man.

November 15 2009 at 3:37 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Sue

Matthew: Saw you and your Five Finger/Five Toes "apefeet" at Eddie's Attic November 6 (with Susanna!)and thought the show and your shoes were great! I enjoyed talking with you after the first show (I was the fan who had seen you in Naperville). Thanks for making superb music and also for validating "alternative footwear" for us all! Keep up the good work!!! Sue

November 12 2009 at 9:59 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Paul

As Ray Davies once sang "Oh, what a life of luxury, to be like an apeman"

November 12 2009 at 1:01 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
kelley g

....and I thought I knew everything about you. I can honestly say, I have never looked at your shoes. Til now, that is.

November 11 2009 at 8:39 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
MargieLlly

I think those would be great to run in, especially when it's rainy outside. Lets the moisture dry out. And you have cute feet.

November 11 2009 at 7:17 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
justin

Your feet look ... well muscular. Did you notice any changes in them from pre-VFF?

I know my feet are stronger and I think they've gotten wider. I wear VFFs just about exclusively and have been for most of this year.

By the way, though it's a bit "hit or miss" with TSA, I've made it through security a couple times with my KSOs and once with my Classics (Classics tend to get rejected more often it seems). Granted, I've not flown since May, so there's a good chance they've tightened the reigns and informed the TSA guys about VFFs now (to be on the lookout for shoes that look like feet).

Non-U.S. airport security never seems to blink about them though -- just letting you walk right through.

Thanks for sharing!

Justin
http://birthdayshoes.com (the unofficial VFF fan site)

November 10 2009 at 9:29 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Clynton

Ha! That would be freaky to see in an x-ray machine. The TSA agent, when he saw my VFFs come up on the conveyor belt, "Do you want me to throw these away for you?" I guess he thought they looked like disposable shoes. If anyone's interested in trying barefoot running with me, check out the "12 Step Program to Run Shodless" that I'm following over at Running Quest http://www.runningquest.net . Thanks for the article! Clynton

November 09 2009 at 6:54 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply